The DAA Collective newsletter keeps Denver's afterschool community connected to resources, professional learning and networking opportunities. Learn more about us.
2024 Lights On Afterschool
Lights on Afterschool is HERE!
Join more than 8,000 communities and 1 million Americans in celebrating afterschool programs for this year's Lights On Afterschool! This nationwide event, organized by the Afterschool Alliance, calls attention to the importance of afterschool programs and the resources required to keep the lights on and the doors open. This year, the Denver Afterschool Alliance is celebrating Lights On Afterschool in a few different ways:
Twelve community-based organizations came together and made an impact photo book that highlights the work that is happening in Denver around youth development. These impact photo books will be gifted to City Council members as well as other community stakeholders.
Today, Thursday, October 24th, the City and County Building will be lit up!
On Monday, October 28th, a City County Proclamation will be signed at 3:30pm during the City Council Meeting.
We're thrilled to share that Governor Jared Polis has officially signed a proclamation declaring October 24th as Lights On Afterschool Day in Colorado! This proclamation shines a spotlight on the importance of afterschool programs that support our youth, families, and communities across the state. Let’s keep the lights on for afterschool programs that inspire, engage, and empower!
Shout out to our friends at Colorado Afterschool Partnership (CAP) for making this proclamation happen!
Coffee and Conversation
Thank you to all of the October Coffee and Conversation: To the Numbers and Beyond attendees for your engaging and thoughtful dialogue around data! We hope that the conversation was helpful in framing the benefits of clean, thorough data collection and presentation in the larger discussion of the importance and value of Out-of-School Time! Shout out to the DAA's own John Lewis (DPS-ELCS Data and Quality Manager/DAA Quality Counts Network Lead) for facilitating the conversation, and to Michael Kagan (Data Coordinator with Scholar's Unlimited) and Jacob Schmetterer (Director Of Data Analytics & Database Management with Boys and Girls Club of Metro Denver) for sharing your expertise!
If you were unable to attend, please check out our website next week for a full recap, HERE.
Managing and running a youth program is HARD! Each day, month and semester brings its own fresh set of exciting successes as well as challenges; giving us the opportunity to come together as a community to discuss and problem solve current challenges and be proactive in getting ahead of future ones!
Come share your experiences and brainstorm early-stage solutions for common challenges faced during programming with OST peers at November's Coffee and Conversation: Proactive Problem Solving on Thursday, November 7th from 9am-11am. We will have the opportunity to hear from DAA Quality Coaches as they share what they are observing, the trends they are seeing as well as their tips for proactive problem solving.
We are so excited to see all of you at the upcoming professional learning sessions this fall! Check out the full Fall 2024 slate HERE. Please note:
If you are unable to attend after having signed up, please cancel your registration in Eventbrite or email Erma Cerda so that we can open seats up to other interested parties!
All sessions are slated to take place at the locations, times and dates listed. However, the details are subject to change if necessary (ie: inclement weather, facilitator illness, etc), so make sure that you register to attend so that you will receive important updates and correspondence!
Ballots have been mailed out, and Election Day 2024 is right around the corner! There is a lot to keep up with during this years election. Here are a few resources to help you out:
For information about the 2024 General Election, click HERE
For the 2024 Ballot Information Booklet, click HERE.
The purpose of the ballot information booklet is to provide voters with the text, title, and a fair and impartial analysis of each initiated or referred constitutional amendment, law, or question on the ballot.
For a great guide to getting young people involved in elections, check out this parental resource created by the Boys and Girls Clubs of America HERE.
Stay informed on ballot issues, important deadlines, and how to vote by signing up for the City and County of Denver's weekly newsletter HERE.
Spooky Season Is Here at Denver Parks and Recreation!
Spooky season is here which means Denver Recreation Centers are beaming with activities. From Pup-or-Treats to Haunted Houses, there's something for the whole family to enjoy! Click on the links below for more information:
Trunk or Treat Oct. 25 @ Cook Park Recreation Center
Fall Activities Oct. 25 Spooky Paddle w/ Denver Outdoor Recreation Oct. 25Beyond the Grave Rave @ Aztlan Oct. 25 Montclair Fall Festival Oct. 26 Washington Park Spooktacular
DPR's annual membership sale will return this November! They are slashing the price of all Individual Annual memberships by 40%! Sale runs November 1-30. November Sale Details
Tasty Foods – FREE After School Meals for Youth
The Office of Children’s Affairs (OCA), in partnership with Hunger Free Colorado (HFC), is excited to offer a new FREE service to increase food security among the youth and families you serve.
Starting this fall, a bilingual SNAP Outreach Navigator (Spanish/English) will visit your site(s) to assist families with SNAP information, enrollment, and recertification. SNAP offers financial aid to low-income individuals and families for purchasing nutritious food. The Outreach Navigator will also share information about other essential resources.
Please take a moment to complete thisbrief survey (available in English and Spanish) to help OCA and HFC improve this FREE on-site service for the youth and families you serve. Your input is valuable, and we look forward to enhancing community support together! For more information, contact Cierra Presley at 720-654-9826 or cierra.presley@denvergov.org
https://forms.office.com/g/e1a9Y5ejsu
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La Oficina de Asuntos Infantiles (OCA), en asociación con Hunger Free Colorado (HFC), está entusiasmados en ofrecer un nuevo servicio GRATUITO para aumentar la seguridad alimentaria entre los jóvenes y las familias a las que usted sirve.
A partir de este otoño, un Navegador Bilingüe de Difusión de SNAP (español/inglés) visitará su(s) sitio(s) para ayudar a las familias con información, inscripción y recertificación de SNAP. SNAP ofrece asistencia financiera a individuos y familias de bajos ingresos para la compra de alimentos nutritivos. El Navegador de Difusión también compartirá información sobre otros recursos esenciales.
Por favor, tome un momento para completar esta breve encuesta (disponible en inglés y español) para ayudar a OCA y HFC a mejorar este servicio GRATUITO en persona para los jóvenes y las familias a las que usted sirve. Su opinión es valiosa y esperamos mejorar juntos el apoyo a la comunidad. Para más información, contacte a Yanira Duarte al 720-363-6867 o yanira.duarte@denvergov.org
Are the ‘Lights On’ in your Afterschool Program? Make sure families know! There is no better time to update the Youth Program Locator than during National Lights On Afterschool week! It takes just a few minutes to update your listing and our team is here to assist and can even update the listing for you—just reach out to us at DAAconnect@denvergov.org for assistance.
Job Opportunities
Become a Substitute / Guest Teacher!
Colorado issues three types of substitute authorizations -- 1-year, 3-year and 5-year -- based on your educational background and experience, which allow you to work as a substitute teacher in a Colorado public school district, BOCES, charter school or CDE-approved facility school. Issued without a specific content or endorsement area, all substitute authorizations are valid for serving in K-12 classrooms.
Colorado students need you! Visit the Step Into Substitute Teaching webpagefor additional information about how you can earn money, influence lives and make a difference!
Opportunities for Teens
Does your organization have employment/internship and/or programming opportunities available to teens beyond the summer months? Send a flyer or posting to Erma Cerda, and we will post it in the newsletter for programs to share with youth!
The Denver Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) believe that young people are the experts in their communities and how youth move around them, and therefore belong at the table to lead and inform policies, programs, and projects that affect them and their peers. Teen Safe Streets is a youth-led program to promote transportation safety, educate about bicycle/pedestrian/transit mobility and teen driving safety and laws like the Graduated Drivers’ License. The Teen Safe Streets program has new openings for Youth Advisors (age 14-24), advocating for equity and justice toward accessing safe and reliable transit options for teens (bike/walk/transit/safe driving)!
Denver Human Services (DHS) IDDEAS mill levy program is excited to invite qualified applicants to apply for the VOICES 2025 mini grants!
The Vital Opportunities for Inclusion, Choice, Empowerment, and Self-Advocacy (VOICES) funding opportunity seeks to strengthen inclusion, diversity, and acceptance throughout Denver by elevating the voices of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) or developmental delays and creating new opportunities for them to meaningfully engage in community.
Grants of up to $50,000 shall be awarded to organizations and individuals with qualified proposals to enhance the quality of life of Denver residents with I/DD through recognition and support of their intersectional identities, outreach to underrepresented communities, increased inclusion in community life around Denver, and promotion of self-advocacy. Organizations supporting migrants/newcomers in Denver with I/DD or developmental delays are encouraged to apply. Applications are open now and will be accepted on Submittable through Monday, November 18, 2024 at 4:00 pm Mountain Standard Time.
For more informationregister to attend a pre-submission virtual info session on Monday, November 4 from 1:00 – 2:00 pm MST on Zoom offered publicly to all interested potential Respondents. Please contact DHS_Contracting_Services@denvergov.org with questions.
The Colorado Department of Education is pleased to announce that the grant competition for Colorado Nonprofits Out-of-School Time grant program is now open and will close on Thursday, November 21, 2024 at 4 pm.
The Colorado Nonprofits Out-of-School Time Grant Program is authorized through the “Out-of-School Time Program Grant Program” Act (C.R.S. 22-105.5-104). Approximately $3.3 million in state funds is available to award through this funding opportunity for each year of the three-year grant.
To be eligible to receive a grant, an entity:
must be a nonprofit organization that is exempt from taxation pursuant to section 501 (c)(3) of the federal "internal revenue code of 1986", as amended, and
have at least five years’ experience providing affordable and comprehensive academic enrichment and related services to students in the state.
Application materials along with grant updates will be posted on this webpage. For more information and full eligibility, please reference the Request for Application HERE.
Scholars Unlimited is seeking a Marketing and Social Media Strategist that will design and develop a marketing and social media strategy for their organization. This is a contract position capped at $6000 for a minimum of three months. Proposals are being accepted through 6:00p Friday, October 25 and may be sent via email to Jasmine Brewer atjbrewer@scholarsunlimited.org.
Check out the Marketing and Social Media Strategy Request for Proposal HERE.
Caring for Colorado Foundation has a funding opportunity available that prioritizes youth health and well-being. They are working to advance health and well-being for young people, ages 9 to 25, in Colorado who experience health inequities due to economic injustice, racism, and discrimination through strategic investments designed to support young people, strengthen families, and build youth-centered communities.
Part 1 applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 14, 2024 -Apply HERE.
If you need technical assistance accessing the grant application portal, please contact the Grants Management team atgrants@caringforcolorado.orgor by phone at 719-566-7841.
The Colorado Health Foundation’sNonprofit Sabbatical Programgives nonprofit leaders the opportunity to step away from their professional responsibilities. The sabbatical award is a grant that provides nonprofit executives with funds for a salary subsidy, hiatus activities, and support for their organization’s interim leadership needs and capacity building.
If you’re a Colorado nonprofit executive who has served at least three years in your current executive role, has seven or more years of experience leading within the nonprofit sector, and has a demonstrated record of community contribution, you might be eligible for The Colorado Health Foundation 2025 Nonprofit Sabbatical Program.
Sabbatical applications are now open and close on 12/16/2024 at 11:59 p.m.
NextWaveSTEM offers turnkey courses in STEAM and CTE for in-school and OST, including national and state standards-aligned curriculum, professional development, and course hardware with teacher implementation support. All courses are available in Spanish! Pathways include Robotics, Drone Coding and Part 107 Pilot Certification, Artificial Intelligence, Hydroponics, Smart Automation and Circuitry, Cybersecurity, Renewable Energy, and more.
The wait is almost over! Explore the newly renovated Central Library in the heart of downtown Denver starting Nov. 3. Let your curiosity guide your journey through this iconic building where connection, learning, and enjoyment await you. Pick your path to discover the past, honor the present, and explore the future. Your journey awaits you!
Explore Central: Grand Reopening Celebration Sunday, November 3, 2024 10 W. 14th Ave. Pkwy. Ribbon cutting ceremony begins at 10 a.m. Library reopens at 11 a.m. Open to the public
A fun-filled day awaits you with entertainment, activities, and community! Are you ready to #ExploreCentral? Learn more at www.denverlibrary.org/explore-central. Registration is encouraged but not required.
Miracle League of Metro Denver (MLMD) is partnering with Denver Parks and Recreation to expand to Valverde Park, and they need volunteers for the 2024 Fall season! Miracle League of Metro Denver depends on each and every volunteer to help players both on the field and off by creating an atmosphere conducive to baseball.
To learn more about the many volunteer opportunities available and to sign up, click HERE.
Community Resources
The History Colorado Center has opened its doors for families and self-advocates who prefer a lower sensory museum experience! The museum will close to the general public, limit attendance and turn down the exhibit sounds on the following dates from 8:00am to 10:00am:
October 26, 2024
December 14, 2024
January 11, 2025
March 8, 2025
May 17, 2025
July 19, 2025
September 13, 2025
November 8, 2025
Tickets are FREE, but space is limited, so please reserve your tickets in advance HERE.
Denver’s LeafDrop Program allows residents to dispose of their fall leaves in an environmentally friendly way. Each fall, Denver’s Office of the City Forester partners with Denver’s Department of Transportation & Infrastructure (DOTI) and Ace Hardware to provide paper leaf bags and designated drop-off sites for Denver residents. Compostable leaf bags are accepted in green compost carts during heavy yard waste seasons, including April – June and September – November.
Print out a coupon and bring it to an ACE Hardware store for a free 5 pack of leaf bags HERE
EQurious Miranda’s musings on all things SEAL
Forget Halloween…What Mask Do YOU Wear Every Day?
Hello Qurious Readers!
Halloween is upon us and it has me thinking about costumes, and more specifically, masks. I listened to a podcast a few months ago with Ashanti Branch, founder of the Million Mask Movement. His story is powerful and I encourage you all to Google him, listen to his TedX talk, etc. The very abridged version is, he is an educator that discovered while working with youth (particularly with young men) that humans are compelled for various reasons to put on a mask to present to the world in ways we think others want or need us to be. The pictures in this post are from the Million Mask Gallery where young people and adults across the globe have created and submitted their masks. Powerful.
There is so much pressure on young people to perform and conform to their environments. When we get so used to wearing our masks all the time, where is the space to take it off and reveal what is happening behind it? Afterschool programs can provide (and often do) that for young people! How are you holding space for youth to understand when they are showing us their mask AND what is happening behind it. While our mask serves and protects us (maybe even keeps us alive), we desperately need spaces to reveal what is behind it and feel what it is like to be in conversations without fear of judgment or being fixed. As Ashanti Branch shares, “When your heart opens, you can learn what you are passionate about and live a purpose-driven life.”
Did any of that above resonate with you??? (Well, it did with me!) This a powerful activity for us adults also. I went to the website and drew my mask. What I show to the world every day, often does not match the thoughts and feelings behind it. My mask is heavy and it is exhausting to wear, yet, I am often afraid to take it off and reveal what is behind it. In the spaces I do, my creativity and passion have space to shine and I can breathe easier. I feel seen, heard and valued. I want all the people I work with, as well as those I love, to feel that. How can I be better at developing space for myself and others to reveal what’s behind the mask? What could be possible for YOU when you reveal what is behind the mask you wear in the world?
Create your mask and hold space for others in your life to do the same. See what happens and embrace the possibilities.
